Toilet brush

ABSTRACT

A toilet brush includes a handle and head, which has both bristles and wiping members. The bristles provide a scrubbing surface and define under-rim extensions, the wiping members provide a wiping or scraping surfaces in addition to the scrubbing surface for removal of more stubborn debris.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/315,550, filed Mar. 19, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to cleaning implements, and more particularly, to toilet brushes.

SUMMARY

In one example, a toilet brush is provided.

In another example, a toilet brush is provided having a bristle head shaped to more easily reach and clean under the rim of a toilet bowl.

In another example, a toilet brush is provided having bristles and at least one wiping or scraping fin that acts to wipe or scrape the toilet surface for removal of more stubborn debris.

In another example, a toilet brush is provided having bristles and vertically oriented wiping or scraping fins positioned within the bristles. The exemplary toilet brush can also include a horizontal, undulating wiping or scraping fin positioned above the bristles.

In another example, a toilet brush is provided in which the bristle head defines under-rim extensions that allow the brush to clean under the rim of a toilet bowl with the toilet brush in a generally vertical orientation.

In another example, a toilet brush is provided having bristles that extend at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle and upwards toward the handle. These bristles are arranged to form multiple under-rim extensions that assist in cleaning under the rim of a toilet bowl with the toilet brush in a generally vertical orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary toilet brush;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the toilet brush shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial top perspective view of the toilet brush shown in FIG. 1.

Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary toilet brush 20 generally includes an elongated handle 25 and cleaning head 30, attached to elongated handle 25.

In the example shown, handle 25 is made of a polypropylene material, but can also be made out of any suitable material such as wood, metal, other suitable plastics, etc. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, handle 25 is generally cylindrical and extends generally along a longitudinal axis from a first end 26, distal to cleaning head 30, to a second end 27, proximate to cleaning head 30. First end 26 of handle 25 is slightly curved to provide a more comfortable grip for a user. However, first end 26 could also be straight, could include a grip or other patterned/textured surface, or could include other shapes, sized, textures, etc. as desired. Referring to FIG. 2, second end 27 of handle 25 includes a connector 28 for connecting or securing handle 25 to cleaning head 30, as described in more detail below. Connector 28 has a generally cylindrical main portion extending from the end of handle 25, which is smaller in diameter than handle 25, a slot defined through the main portion, and a protrusion 29 that extends from the outer surface of main portion and annularly around the main portion.

Cleaning head 30 is generally bullet-shaped or conical to better fit the convex shape of a toilet bowl for cleaning, but could also be made in any shape desired. Referring to FIG. 2, cleaning head 30 generally includes base 31, bristles 55, and wiper member 35, which includes inner frame 65 and blade member 105. In the example shown, base 31 is made of polypropylene material, but could also be formed from any suitable material such as wood, metal, other suitable plastics, etc. Base 31 is generally cylindrical and has a number of openings 40 defined therethrough, which are configured and arranged to receive bristles 55. Base 31 also includes at least one, preferably a plurality, and more preferably, three elongated slots 45 defined in the outer surface that extend longitudinally along a portion of base 31 and are equally spaced around the perimeter of base 31. Slot(s) 45 are configured and arranged to receive axial arm(s) 85 of inner frame 65, as described in more detail below. Second end 51 of base 31 is semi-spherical and also contains openings 40 to receive bristles 55. First end 50 of base 31 defines a planar surface 52 having an aperture 53 therein and a generally annular rim 54 extending axially from planar surface 52 around aperture 53. Annular rim 54 is configured and arranged to be received in a corresponding opening (not shown) in the bottom of collar 70 of inner frame 65. Aperture 53 is configured to receive connector 28 of handle 25 therein to connect handle 25 to base 31. To make this connection, a channel (not shown) is formed around the inner surface of aperture 53, which is configured to receive protrusion 29 of connector 28 to provide a snap-fit connection. In the present example, connector 28 and aperture 53 form a snap fit connection, but it is understood that handle 25 and base 31 can be connected via any suitable means known in the art, including cooperatively threaded male and female connectors, adhesives, sonic welding, etc.

Bristles 55 are disposed in openings 40 about the outer surface of base 31 and are staple set to base 31, but could also be secured to base 31 through any other well known manner. Bristles 55 extend generally radially from the outer surface of base 31 to define a scrubbing surface. While most of the bristles 55 extend generally perpendicular to the outer surface of base 31, a subset 55A of bristles 55 proximate first end 50 are angled upward slightly at varying degrees toward first end 26 of handle 25 to create an undulating or waved contour around the circumference of the upper end of the scrubbing surface, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The upper crests of the waved contour define multiple under-rim extensions 60, which provide a user with the ability to clean the side of a toilet bowl directly under the rim with the toilet brush 20 in a generally vertical position.

In the example shown, inner frame 65 of wiper member 35 is made of a polypropylene material, but can also be made out of any suitable material such as wood, metal, other suitable plastics, etc. Inner frame 65 includes collar 70, which has an aperture 71 therethrough and a generally annular rim 72 extending axially from collar 70 and around aperture 71. Aperture 71 is configured to receive second end 27 of handle 25 therein and has a shoulder 73 that is configured to contact second end 27 of handle 25 to limit the travel of handle 25 through aperture 71. When assembled, connector 28 of handle 25 protrudes from the bottom of collar 70 to mate with and connect to base 31, thereby trapping and securing inner frame 65 between handle 25 and base 31.

Inner frame 65 also includes a plurality of radial arms 80 extending radially from collar 70 and a plurality of axial arms 85 extending longitudinally from collar 70. Axial arms 85 are configured and arranged to engage slots 45 in base 31 to prevent rotation of inner frame 65 when toilet brush 20 is assembled.

In the example shown, blade member 105 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), but could also be made of rubber or any other suitable flexible material. Blade member 105 includes an annular fin 120 and a plurality of spaced apart vertical fins 110 extending from the bottom surface of annular fin 120. Annular fin 120 forms a generally flat undulating ring and is configured such that it coordinates with the undulating or waved contour of the subset 55A of bristles 55, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Vertical fins 110 are constructed and arranged such that they are connected to and extend from the bottom surface 90 of radial arms 80 and the outer surface 95 of axial arms 85. In the present example, inner frame 65 and blade member 105 are co-molded to form the wiper member 35, but it is understood that inner frame 65 and blade member 105 may be connected or secured together by any suitable means, such as adhesives, sonic welding, mechanical means, etc.

As described above, inner frame 65 of wiper member 35 is configured to fit over base 31 such that axial arms 85 engage slots 45 in base 31, thereby holding wiper member 35 in place and preventing rotational movement of wiper member 35. Collar 70 of wiper member 35 also rests on planar surface 52 at first end 50 of base 31. Annular rim 54 passes through aperture 71 of collar 70 and engages connector 28 of handle 25 to secure base 31 to handle 25. Vertical fins 110 extend radially from axial arms 85. They are positioned between bristles 55, 55A and are desirably configured such that the outer radial edges 113 of vertical fins 110 are substantially flush with the scrubbing surface defined by bristles 55, 55A. Similarly, the outer radial edge of annular fin 120 is preferably substantially flush with the scrubbing surface defined by bristles 55A.

Connector 28 at second end 27 of handle 25 passes through aperture 71 of collar 70 to engage the aperture 53 in first end 50 of base 31, thereby connecting handle 25 to base 31.

In use, the scrubbing surface defined by bristles 55, 55A allow a user to clean different areas of a toilet bowl while outer edges 113 of vertical fins 110 act to wipe or scrape the surfaces of a toilet being cleaned in addition to the scrubbing of bristles 55, 55A. Under-rim extensions 60 formed by subset 55A of bristles 55 allow the user to clean the areas under the rim of a toilet while maintaining toilet brush 20 in a generally vertical orientation. In this same orientation, the upper wiping surface 125 defined by horizontal fin 120 assists in the removal of more stubborn debris.

While a particular example of a toilet brush has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. 

1. A toilet brush comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end; and a cleaning head connected to said second end, said cleaning head comprising bristles and a wiper member.
 2. The toilet brush of claim 1 wherein said cleaning head further comprises a base and wherein said bristles extend from said base.
 3. The toilet brush of claim 2 wherein said wiper member comprises at least one vertical fin extending longitudinally along said base.
 4. The toilet brush of claim 3 wherein said at least one vertical fin comprises a plurality of vertical fins.
 5. The toilet brush of claim 4 wherein said plurality of vertical fins are equally spaced around the perimeter of said base.
 6. The toilet brush of claim 3 wherein said at least one vertical fin is made of flexible material.
 7. The toilet brush of claim 3 wherein said at least one vertical fin has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 8. The toilet brush of claim 3 wherein said wiper member further comprises an annular fin.
 9. The toilet brush of claim 8 wherein said annular fin is made of flexible material.
 10. The toilet brush of claim 8 wherein said at annular fin has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 11. The toilet brush of claim 8 wherein said annular fin is an undulating ring.
 12. The toilet brush of claim 1 wherein said bristles include a subset of bristles angled upwardly toward said first end of said handle.
 13. The toilet brush of claim 12 wherein said subset of bristles are angled at varying degrees to create an undulating contour around the circumference of an upper end of a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 14. The toilet brush of claim 11 wherein said bristles include a subset of bristles angled upwardly toward said first end of said handle at varying degrees to create an undulating contour around the circumference of an upper end of a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles, and wherein said undulating contour corresponds to the contour of said undulating ring.
 15. The toilet brush of claim 2 wherein said wiper member comprises an annular fin.
 16. The toilet brush of claim 15 wherein said annular fin is an undulating ring.
 17. The toilet brush of claim 16 wherein said bristles include a subset of bristles angled upwardly toward said first end of said handle at varying degrees to create an undulating contour around the circumference of an upper end of a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles, and wherein said undulating contour corresponds to the contour of said undulating ring.
 18. The toilet brush of claim 15 wherein said annular fin is made of flexible material.
 19. The toilet brush of claim 15 wherein said annular fin has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 20. The toilet brush of claim 2 wherein said wiper member includes a frame connected to said base and a blade member carried by said frame.
 21. The toilet brush of claim 20 wherein said base includes at least one slot extending longitudinally along said base and said frame includes at least one axial arm for engaging said at least one slot.
 22. The toilet brush of claim 21 wherein said blade member includes at least one vertical fin extending longitudinally along said at least one axial arm.
 23. The toilet brush of claim 22 wherein said frame includes at least one radial arm corresponding to said at least one axial arm and wherein said at least one vertical fin is connected to said at least one radial arm and said at least one axial arm.
 24. The toilet brush of claim 22 wherein said blade member further includes an annular fin.
 25. The toilet brush of claim 24 wherein said annular fin is an undulating ring.
 26. The toilet brush of claim 25 wherein said bristles include a subset of bristles angled upwardly toward said first end of said handle at varying degrees to create an undulating contour around the circumference of an upper end of a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles, and wherein said undulating contour corresponds to the contour of said undulating ring.
 27. The toilet brush of claim 22 wherein said at least one vertical fin is made of flexible material.
 28. The toilet brush of claim 22 wherein said at least one vertical fin has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 29. The toilet brush of claim 24 wherein said annular fin is made of flexible material.
 30. The toilet brush of claim 24 wherein said annular fin has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 31. The toilet brush of claim 21 wherein said blade member includes an annular fin.
 32. The toilet brush of claim 31 wherein said annular fin is made of flexible material.
 33. The toilet brush of claim 31 wherein said annular fin has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 34. The toilet brush of claim 1 wherein said wiper member comprises flexible material.
 35. The toilet brush of claim 34 wherein said wiper member has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles.
 36. The toilet brush of claim 1 wherein said wiper member has an outer edge that is substantially flush with a scrubbing surface defined by said bristles. 